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| Girl, 4, Sees Parents for First Time After Stem Cell Operation |
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| 2010年12月 17日(金曜日) 09:03 | |||
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There are no translations available. Source: Parentdish
Born with Septo Optic Displasia, a congenital condition that causes a hormone deficiency and mobility problems, Izabelle Evans, 4, was blind since birth. But the little girl can now see up to three feet in front of her after undergoing stem cell treatment in China. Because of the condition, Izabelle only had a few hundred optic nerves connecting her eyes to her brain, whereas most people have millions. Izabelle's parents, James Evans and Hollie McHugh, both 24, from Hayling Island, Hampshire, England, tell London's Daily Mail nothing could top the moment when their daughter looked into their eyes for the first time and said "Mommy" and "Daddy." "A couple of days after we got back, I put the Christmas tree up and she reached out to grab for the lights," McHugh tells the newspaper. "Last year, she wasn't even aware we had a Christmas tree." The stem cell treatment used in Izabelle's case rebuilds the optic nerves by injecting the spinal canal with cells taken from the umbilical cords of healthy babies. The girl's parents decided to send Izabelle to China for treatment after researching her condition and raising the money needed, which took just more than a year, the Daily Mail reports. Izabelle's month-long stay in China's Qingdao Chengyang People's Hospital wasn't easy, according to the newspaper. She had to go through grueling treatments with only two days off per week. In addition to stem cell treatments, she also underwent acupressure, standing therapy, physiotherapy and electric wave therapy to stimulate her tight muscles -- another symptom of her condition. However, the results of the treatments were soon worth the pain they caused, the newspaper reports. "We've seen lots of changes. Her speech has improved a lot. Before she went, she could only say one or two words, but now we can have a little conversation with her," McHugh tells the Daily Mail. "Her walking has improved and she can support her own weight on her legs now." Izabelle's parents tell the newspaper they are waiting six months to see what their next move will be. "We're going to wait because the stem cells continue to work for six months if she stays healthy," Evans tells the Daily Mail. "We're going to keep an eye on her, see how her vision is, and then decide if we'll go back out there again to see if we can improve even more."
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